Adjustable leg rest for wheel chairs



June 3, 1952 H. A. EvEREs'r ErAL ADJUSTABLE LEG REST FOR WHEEL CHAIRS Filed Feb. 4, 1950 IN VEN TORS Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED ADJUSTABLE LEG REST FOR WHEEL CHAIRSV Herbert A. Everest and Harry C. Jennings, Los Angeles,v Calif.

Application February 4, 1950, Serial No. 142,372 Y Claims, l

This invention relates to an adjustable leg rest for wheel chairs.

A primary object of the invention is to provide a means for mounting a leg rest on thefoot rest support of an invalids wheel chair so that the leg rest is pivotally adjustable between limits about a horizontal axis. wheel chairsrhave been provided wherein the leg rest was rotatably adjustable about the axis of the foot rest support sov that it could optionally assume a position to support the leg of the user or it could be swung into a position extending forwardly therefrom when not used or not desired. Although such leg rests were thus adjustable about the axis of the foot rest support, they have heretofore not been adjustable about a horizontal axis.V Consequently, in certain situations the back of the leg of the invalid using the chair might engage the top edge of the leg rest support which engagement would shortly become quite uncomfortable, By having the leg rest support tiltably adjustable between limits for tilting movement about a horizontal axis, the leg rest support can adjust itself or accommodate itself to the leg of the user. 1

Another object of the presentinvention is to i provide a simple and sturdy bracket that can be easily applied to a foot rest support so as to adjustably mount a leg rest thereon and which is so designed that the bracket will be frictionally held in any adjusted position and can be maintained in a tight condition at all times so as to prevent objectionable rattling.

Stilla further object of the present invention vis to provide a simple but highly effective mechanism for tiltably supporting a leg rest on a pin carried by the bracket so that the leg rest will be frictionally held in any adjusted position and maintained against rattling and will be effectively locked in place on the pin by the same spring which frictionally holds the leg rest in any adjusted position.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will be made manifest in the following detailed description and specifically pointed out in the appended claims, reference is had to the accompanying drawings for an illustrative embodiment of the invention, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the forward portion of an invalids Wheel chair illustrating a form of foot rest support thereon and showing the improved leg rest as having been applied thereto;

Fig. 2 is a partial view taken substantially upon the line 2-2 upon Fig. 1 in the direction indicated; v

Heretofore invalids` Fig. 3 is a partial view in vertical section on an enlarged scale taken substantially upon the line 3-3 upon Fig. 2 in the direction indicated;

Fig. 4 is a partial view in horizontal section taken substantially upon the line 4--4 upon Fig. 2; and

Fig. 5 is a partial view in vertical section illustrating the manner in which the leg rest can bei tion, a bracket I0 is secured to each forward leg4 of the wheel chair frame so as to provide a pivot at II located forwardly of the seat of the chair, the axis of which is intended to be approximately coincident with the axis of swing at the invalids knee. The foot rest support indicated at I2 is preferably formed of tubing and extends downwardly and forwardly from thepivot I I and can be held in any adjusted position by means of the adjusting mechanism generally indicated at I3. The foot rest indicated at I4 has a shank I5 telescoping into the lower end of the foot rest support I2 and `held in any adjusted position therein by means of a clamp operableby a screw I6.

The leg rest embodying the present invention consists of a channel-shaped bracket I1 the channel of which is of` sufficient Width to accommodatethe tubular foot rest support I2. VThis bracket is applied over the foot rest support I2 at the location of atangential lug I8 that is brazed or otherwise secured to the foot rest support I2. The lug I8 extends through a slot I9 in the back of the bracket and serves to hold the bracket against sliding in an axial direction with relation to the foot rest support I2. Its engagement with the ends `of the slot I9 serves to limit swinging or rotary movement of the bracket relative to the foot rest support. A As a means for frictionally holding the bracket in any adjusted positions between these limits and for maintaining the bracket in applied position about the foot `rest support, a thinsheet metal spring 20 bridges the open side of the channel 2 I. This spring is fiexed intermediate its side edges which edges are anchored in grooves 22 and 23 in the sides of theswung or rotated about the axis of the foot rest` support I2 between the limits established by the lug I8 engaging the ends of the-slot I9.

On the inner side of the bracket there is a recess 24 into which a pin 25 is pressed or otherwise secured. This pin serves to provide a horizontal mounting for the' legY rest generally indicated at 26. This leg rest consists of a covered panel of plywood, Masonite, or equivalent com.- position and has a plate 2I secured to its rear side such as by bolts 28. The plate has vspaced knuckles 29 vand 3U. brazed or. otherwise secured thereto through which the. pin 25 extends, thus providinga rotary or pivotall mounting for the leg rest l.on the bracket. VYThe axis ofthe pivot or tilt of the leg rest is disposed intermediate the top and bottom of the leg rest and is coincident with the axis of thepin 25.

allyA holding the legrest in anyposition towhich it is .adjustable theV pin 25 'has that portion of itslength which is between the knuckles 29 and 30. of' slightly reduced.. diameter thus forming shoulders .3| and 32 which are flush with the op'- v posed faces of the knuckles. A leaf spring 33 is. positionedbetween the pin.2`5 and the plate 21. This spring has its ends bent toward .the plate 21. so. as to be engageable therewith. andintermediate-.itsv ends,v the spring fits between the shoulf d ers3.I.andl32 and extends across the. opposed facesv of the two knuckles 29 and 30. In assem- Ybnmgthe 1eg, rest on the pin 25 it is merely necessary. to.slip the knuckles 29. and 30 onto .the pin andwhen the opposedY faces of the knuckles are iiushwith the shoulders 3I andV 32 to insert theV spring .33 thespringconsequently not only locks'r the leg` rest .on the pin against withdrawal there` from but'it providesthe requredfriction toV holdi the legrestin any adjusted position although on Vlyarlvantageous-in. that it isv tiltably adjustable.

about a. horizontal axis provided by the pin 2'5. Consequently between the limits aiorded by the shoulders 34 Yand 35 the leg rest may accommo-V date itself oradjust itself to the back of the Vleg ofv the invalid. Whenever the leg rest is undesired it may be forciblyl swung about the axis of thefoot rest support I2 and during such swinging; movement the bracket I'I Vmerely turnsf relativelytothefoot rest support I2. The con struction is such that the bracket can be easily andquickly assembled with thefoot rest in that itis merely necessary to. apply the bracket over the.; footv rest vsupport ata position'wherein the lug .-.I8-wi1l` enter?` the slot I9 4r'and then force-.thespringfll2llintogazipgsition. such.' that itseside :edges- As a means for locking the legV reston the pin. 25 and friction' enters the grooves 22 and 23. The bracket being thus spring-urged against the support I2 at all times will not rattle and will remain in adjusted position. Similarly the mounting formed between the leg rest support 26 and the pin 25 is such that it will not rattle and the leg rest will remain in .any adjusted ,Y positionuntil forcibly moved therefrom. If at anytimefit is desired to remove the leg rest for any reason the spring 33 can be removed thus freeing the knuckles 29 and 30 so that they can be slipped olf of the pin. Also, on removal of the spring 20 the bracket I'I can be easily and quickly removed from the leg rest support.

Various changes may be made in the details of the construction without departing from the spirit and scope'rofA the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In .combination with the foot rest supportof an invalids wheel chair, a 'leg rest` mounted.

thereon so as to be engageable 'bythe backof" thelleg of the user, said leg rest being rotatably mounteduponsaid supportfor pivotalmovement.

about a transversely extending Iaxis .between lim? its.

2. In combination with the foot rest supportY of 'an invalids wheel chair, a .leg rest mounted'.

3'. In combination with the foot restsupport of an invalids wheel chair, a. bracketlmoun'ted.

for rotary adjustment thereon between limits, and a leg rest Vmounted intermediate its` ends for.` rotary adjustment between limits'upon said. bracket.

4. rn combination with the footrest supporti.

of aninvalids wheel chain-a bracketrnountedv for rotaryV adjustment thereon between'lirn'its, and.

a leg rest mounted for rotary.adjustmentbetween.

limits upon said bracket about'v an axis, atlright angles to the axis of adjustment. oi the .bracket relative to said support..

5. In combination with the'footre'st.supportofI an invalids wheel chair, a bracket rotatably'ad.-

justable between limits upon said Vsupport for..

adjustment aboutV the axis` of the support, and a leg rest tiltably mounteduponthe bracket. for. tilting movement about an. axis atright. angles'V to said support.

6. A bracket for adjustably mounting alega-rest.

on a cylindrical support therefor comprising. a channel-shaped bracket in which the support'is` positioned, and a flexed spring extend-ingacross the open side of the channel ofthe bracket con@ iining the support therein, said spring having its..

side edges anchored in the sidesof; the channel and ybearing upon the support.

'7. Means for adjustably mounting4 a leg rest on the foot Vrest support of-a wheel-chair, com-.-

prising a channel-shaped bracket on. whichthe leg rest is mounted andthrough the vchannelof which the foot rest support extends, a-iexed;

spring having its side edges-anchored ingthe sides of the .channel and bearing upon the-sup.-

port, there being a lug on the support extending" 8. Means for adjustably mounting aHleg-lrest:

on the foot rest support of ,a wheel chair comprising a channel-shaped bracket on which the leg rest is mounted and through the channel of which the foot rest support extends, a flexed spring having its side edges anchored in the sides of the channel and bearing upon the support, there being a lug on the support extending through a slot in the bracket limiting rotation of the bracket relative to the support and preventing longitudinal movement of the bracket on the support, a pin extending laterally from the bracket, the leg rest being rotatably adjustable on the pin.

9. Means for adjustably mounting a leg rest on the foot rest support of a wheel chair comprising a channel-shaped bracket on which the leg rest is mounted and through the channel of which the foot rest support extends, a ilexed spring having its side edges anchored in the sides of the channel and bearing upon the support, there being a lug on the support extending through a slot in the bracket limiting rotation of the bracket relative to the support and preventing longitudinal movement of the bracket on the support, a pin extending laterally from the bracket, the leg rest being rotatably adjustable on the pin, and shoulders on the bracket engageable by the leg rest for limiting its rotation on the pin.

10. Means for adjustably mounting a leg rest on a support therefor for tilting movement about a horizontal axis comprising a pin, spaced knuckles on the leg rest through which the pin extends, the pin being of reduced diameter between the knuckles, and a spring on the leg rest disposed between the knuckles and entering the reduced diameter on the pin so as to lock the knuckles against axial movement relative to the pin and serving to frictionally hold the leg rest in adjusted position on the pin.

HERBERT A. EVEREST. HARRY C. JENNINGS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 278,364 Salfordl May 29, 1883 2,181,420 Everest Nov. 28, 1939 2,460,459 Kraska Feb. 1, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS e Number Country Date 664,642 France Apr. 23, 1929 

